Broward to dramatically change student discipline policies

Broward school officials are proposing dramatic changes in the way they handle student suspensions and expulsions in an effort to cut the number of student arrests in the district.

For example, the district plans to roll out an intervention program by next school year as an alternative to out-of-school suspension or arrest. It is also working with law enforcement and the courts to provide last-chance counseling in tougher cases.

Other changes include reducing the number of suspension days for some offenses and clearing a student's disciplinary record after elementary school for other offenses.

“It's a culture shift. This is all about common sense discipline,” board member Robin Bartleman said Tuesday, during a six-hour workshop on the topic.

The changes would deal with incidents on a case-by-case basis, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach that often results in too many arrests, officials said.

Broward County had the state's highest number of school-related arrests for 2011-12, according to the Department of Juvenile Justice.

“That's a call to action for us,” said Amalio Nieves, curriculum supervisor for diversity, culture and outreach prevention.

He said the intervention program would give students accused of non-violent offenses – such as petty theft, alcohol use, trespassing and vandalism - a chance to remain in a school setting and receive individualized counseling, mentoring or behavioral services.

Nieves said that could boost graduation rates. “The only way we're going to do that is if we keep kids in schools. If we keep kicking kids out, they're not learning.”

There are still some things to work out, including finalizing which offenses would be included in the program, where it will be housed, whether a student could be referred more than once and how much funding is required.

Students whose behavior does not change or who refuse to participate will get one more chance through a district partnership with the judcial system. Made up of therapists, school-resource officers, teachers, administrators and a juvenile justice judge, the program will work to address misbehavior.

“If that circle of care fails to have a change in behavior, you're free to be arrested,” said Judge Elijiah Williams.